In the Footsteps of St. Louis Marie de Montfort

"Footsteps Online"

Summer 2000 (Volume 5, Issue 2)

Be Reconciled!

Before He died, Jesus cried out: "Father forgive them for they do not know what they are doing." Lk 23:34.
In that moment, He transformed the violence of human beings into forgiveness and compassion. He broke the chains of violence, hatred and sin.
Something new is being given; violence is changed to forgiveness. The door of love is opening because of His death. (The Broken Body by Jean Vanier)

In March 1996, Sisters Marian and Catherine, Daughters of Wisdom, came to the parish of St Mary's, Greencastle, which is in north Belfast. We had been missioned to serve as Parish Sisters to about 2,500 people with one priest who had part-time help from a priest in the neighbouring parish. The day after it was made public that we were coming to Belfast, the IRA cease-fire was broken. We were asked if we still wanted to come and without hesitation our answer was 'yes'. It would demand risks, but what is not worthwhile for God if it does not call on us to take risks? For Sr. Marian the situation was not new. She was brought up in Belfast and Loyalists had murdered her brother in 1976. But for Sr. Catherine, this new mission was like stepping out into the dark, but with great faith in God.

There has been much pain and suffering in our parish over the years. Many young people and not so young have been murdered, houses have been burned and parishioners intimidated out of their homes. Our school has been petrol bombed on a number of occasions and one wing burned to the ground four years ago. The church also has been set on fire and the priest's house in the next parish has been petrol bombed. There has been evidence of sectarianism on both sides of the divide.

While there has been a spirit of ecumenism between the Churches, it was felt that something must be done to cross the divide in a more personal way. "The truth will set you free." Reconciliation can only come about when the truth is faced and told. In the light of this passage from the Scriptures, two of our parishioners who were pioneers of this group and who are still involved at monthly meetings formed an Inter-Church Group. This is what they write about it:

MOVEMENT BEYOND SECTARIANISM

"Just over four years ago, our parish priest announced at Mass that the Irish School of Ecumenics was hoping to start a discussion group in our area comprising members from the different denominations of the Christian Churches, titled 'Movement Beyond Sectarianism'. Anyone interested was invited to put his or her own name forward thus ensuring that everyone was participating freely. Mary and I, along with ten other parishioners, decided to accept the challenge. I became involved because previously I had done some voluntary work with young teenagers from each side of our religious divide and I was curious to know what were the thoughts of the adults in our community. Mary became involved because she had been brought up in the Protestant faith and converted to Catholicism when she met her husband, and so she wanted to share her experiences.

The first meeting was held in our Pastoral Centre. There were twelve Catholics, twelve Methodists and twelve Presbyterians present. Name-tags were worn by all and we were introduced to each other. Then came the first question: 'What do you think sectarianism is and how would you describe it?' Some answers were, insulting each other's religion, graffiti, flags and emblems, discrimination and intimidation, bombings and shootings, street protests, Orange Order marches and policing. The following meetings were very difficult and soul-searching for all the participants as many of us had lost loved ones over the years because of the conflict.

We kept remembering 'The truth will setyou.free'. This demanded listening to each other especially when it hurt. We needed to listen to each other and try to understand the reason for Sectarianism. One very sad story was of two elderly ladies from our group who were so upset about being intimidated out of their homes that they could not speak openly about it. We

were asked to visit them and write their story and tell it to the group. They had lived in the locality for about thirty to forty years and were forced to leave their homes because of their religion.

Now after four years of meeting on a regular basis, visiting and being informed about each other's Church and our services which have been explained by the various Ministers and Priests, participating in services together, we are experiencing more trust and reconciliation. This demands commitment and a determination to take risks for God and the Good News of the Gospel. We are renewed and supported by our group of about fifteen women and our Parish Sisters when we meet in their house regularly to reflect and share the Scriptures."

Brigid and Mary.